Choice celebrates continued commitment to shared housing with new Ballynahinch Scheme

Choice Housing were joined by the Housing Executive and the Department for Communities to launch the latest of their ‘Together Building United Communities’ (T:buc) schemes, Ballymaglave Court in Ballynahinch.

The £1.9m scheme was opened to its new tenants in March this year, delivering 24 much-needed new homes in the Ballynahinch area, accommodating 76 people and incorporating the very latest in energy saving, design and security features.

The new development demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Choice Housing to T:buc, the strategy that reflects Northern Ireland’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.

Hazel Bell, Chair of Choice Housing said:

“We are pleased to celebrate the opening of another much-needed housing scheme, this time providing 24 new homes for residents in the Newry, Mourne and Down area. Housing is a powerful catalyst for positive community transformation and it is important for Choice that our development activity maximises the social impact we make.

“The ethos of the T:buc Strategy is to build a united community and this aligns strongly with the approach of Choice. Evidence suggests that people want to live in shared communities; we know the positive and sustainable benefits that shared neighbourhoods can have. It is critical that we build to not only meet the shortfall of high quality social homes, but to provide the type of schemes that reflect the future we want to move towards.”

The schemes’ new tenants joined the celebrations, marking the occasion by burying a time capsule, which included a range of local memories with old photographs, poems and children’s drawings.

The project is funded through the Department for Communities, with the support of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as well as private financing secured by Choice Housing. The development is set on an original brownfield site, previously occupied by a former factory, which was demolished prior to work commencing on the new scheme in June 2016.

John McCord, Department for Communities said:

“This new development in Ballynahinch, represents a significant investment from the Department as well as Choice Housing. This is the seventh shared neighbourhood to be delivered as part of the T:buc good relations strategy. Not only is this programme delivering much needed, sustainable housing but is also making a valuable contribution to building a united and shared society.”

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